Feeling Good...

So, clearly I've been in a funk, which is evident by my lack of art creation and blog posting, etc. However, for the past few days I've been feeling it in me more and more. I started playing around in my moleskin and made some little doodles. Nothing to really jump up and down about, but at least something in me is beginning to stir. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the fact that my computer works again, or maybe I do this every year and it's in my nature to hibernate sometimes. Whatever the reason, it feels good to awaken my senses, stretch my doodling fingers and create something...anything. So here's a little sample. Like I said, it's nothing fancy...

It's Been A While...

So I guess I lied when I said I'd be posting over the summer. I got distracted with summer fun, and also had no internet availability. So now school has started. I'm at my new school in Donaldsonville, and I'm loving it! It is quite different from where I have taught in the past. For one thing, I'm now teaching art to 5th and 6th graders. I used to teach 3rd grade: math, science, social studies, and art. This is quite different. It's also a much different population at my new school. The school is sort of what you'd call an inner city school, except that most of the town doesn't really lie within the "city" but, rather, surrounded by sugarcane fields. These kids have never taken art classes before, so as far as what they know and can do at this point, it's comparable to what my 3rd graders were able to do. It's an amazing opportunity to get to bring the arts into their lives, though. I love it so much. Even the ones that are "trouble makers" are slowly warming up to it and realizing that they don't have to act up in order to have fun in my class. So far, the most challenging part of it is when I try to get them to write about art, because I suppose they see it as "work" but I have high expectations for them and I know they'll eventually come around if I don't give up on them.
Meanwhile, my life is going well outside of school, too. I haven't been creating much art lately, but I am feeling the inspiration creeping in and I know I'm about to start making some new things. I've always sort of gone through waxing and waning periods of production with my artwork. So I'm about to "wax on" as Mr. Miyagi might say. Stay tuned for upcoming developments.

Update...

As you may have noticed, I haven't been posting daily, as I had previously been doing. This is because I'm winding down the school year with my third graders and packing up my class to move to Donaldsonville for next year. It's been very busy as you could probably imagine, so please don't think I have abandoned my blog. I promise to begin posting more regularly probably by Saturday, when I will officially be on summer vacation! Don't forget about me! I'm still here, loving my blog and my few, but faithful readers!
In the meantime, here are some pictures of what we've been up to in class. My kids sure do love me!

Donaldsonville

Last weekend, I went to Donaldsonville to check out the town I will be working in next school year. (Remember my promotion?)
These first two are of the ride over the Sunshine Bridge, which I will ride across every day next year. I know the plants are not typically something you like to see, but sometimes I think they are like Emerald City or something. My way of ignoring the problem, I suppose.


Once across the bridge, Maria needed to take care of some business at the bottom of the levy. Can you see her? She looks so tiny!

Here we are! The enterance to Donaldsonville! Did you know that for a year it was Lousisana's temporary capital? From 1930-1931.

I tried to go to the Houmus House, a lovely plantation, to see their beautiful gardens, but it cost $20 per person to go on a tour and I was broke, so I had to peak through the gate to steal a few pictures!

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1...

I officially have 9 work days of school left before I'm out for summer! I am so ready because the weather has been wonderful outside! It's been sunny and warm and It makes me want to swim, soak up some rays, go outside and play, ride my bike, go out into nature, walk the dogs, work in the garden, paint, read, or just close my eyes and turn my face up towards the sky, just to feel the breeze and sunshine!

Oh, please let 8 days go by quickly and without too much trouble out of my anxious little angels!

Maneki Neko

I taught the legend of Maneki Neko to my students and they created Maneki Neko collages, which I think came out really great! Here are some of my favorites:










For those of you who don't know the legend, here it is...
This is the legend of the Maneki Neko:
In the 17th century, there was a rundown and poverty-stricken temple in Tokyo. The temple's priest was very poor, but he shared what little food he had with his pet cat, Tama.
One day, a wealthy and important man was caught in a storm while hunting and he took refuge under a big tree near the temple. While he waited for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning him to come inside the temple gate. This was so startling that he left the shelter of the tree to have a closer look at this unusual cat. At that moment, the tree was struck by lighting.
As a result, the wealthy man became friends with the poor priest, and the temple became prosperous. The priest and his cat never went hungry again.
When Tama died he was buried in the Goutokuji Temple's cat cemetery with respect and love, and the Maneki Neko was made in honor of him. A Maneki Neko in your place of business, your home or on your website is said to bring in good luck and visitors.
Maneki Neko is Japanese for "beckoning cat." The message he's holding says "Please come in. You are welcome!" and he is beckoning you with his paw . (In Japan, the gesture of beckoning is pretty much the reverse of the gesture used in the West.)

Am I Blue?

This past weekend was one of many ups and downs. It's funny how no matter how hard to try to have a good time sometimes, the universe has other plans.
First, I went to the art car parade, which was really exciting. I have pictures on my camera at home and will post those soon. But, while there, I ran into my past, creating many feelings I didn't expect to feel on such a beautiful day. I managed to keep my chin up somehow. Sunday my boyfriend, and our dogs went on a picnic. That was great. I have pictures from that as well, but there was just a tugging at us from the previous day, that made tension follow us wherever we went. Try as we might, it finally caught up with us and the day ended in sad feelings. Today is better though, and hopefully it will remain that way for a little while. Ghosts are hard to confront sometimes, but I guess it's a necessary part of life.
On a happier note, here are some cute pics of the babies.

Hedgehogs!

One of my students brought his new hedgehogs to school yesterday!!! I tore my hands up trying to get some good pictures for you guys, but it was worth it. They are adorable, but not very cuddly! Ouch! Plus, they make really weird hissing noises that almost sound like a rattlesnake. This was the first time I ever got to see them in real life. They were so strange! I always imagined they would be cuddly, but how can you cuddle with a ball of toothpicks?

There's a First Time For Everything!

I finally snagged a treasury on Etsy! It's called Bloody Knees! It took forever, but it was fun! Now I'm sleepy and going to bed. Hope you enjoy it!

I Got A Promotion!

I'm proud to announce that I was promoted to "Mentor Teacher" yesterday. What does this mean? Well...I'll tell you!
Last year I went through the process to become Nationally Certified in teaching art. It was very challenging, but when I got the results this November, I PASSED!!!
So, as a nationally certified teacher, I was approached by a friend of mine who is teaching "across the river" in Donaldsonville. She's got the title of "Master Teacher" over there. This school is a low performing school, with underprivilaged children. It's called the Intermediate School and is designed for students who are struggling academically. My friend said they were looking for Nationally Certified teachers to come be "mentors" to the other teachers over there to help guide them and support them in sort of raising the bar for these kids and making sure they are being taught as effectively as possible. I went through a rigorous interview process last week, and got the call yesterday letting me know that I got the position! I am so proud and excited. I'm very nervous, but I know I have a lot to offer these children and I look forward to doing all I can to make a difference in their lives. I can't wait to start researching and planning! The job is going to be quite a bit more challenging than where I am right now, but I'm looking forward to every minute of it! I've decided that life is about new experiences. If I just sat back and took it easy for the rest of my career, I'd die of boredom.
Oh, and one other thing...I'm getting a raise of about $13,500!!!!!! Can you believe that??? Well, you know that part doesn't hurt! Here's a picture of me when I dressed up as Frida Kahlo for my 3rd graders a few years ago. It's the only teacher picture I have on my computer to illustrate this post!

Marvelous Moustaches!

My "Sawing Logs" ACEO made it to a treasury this morning and I must say that I couldn't be more pleased with the company it's keeping. Moustaches Abound!

This one too!!!!

This one is really fun and makes me want to dance!

Beirut...my love...

I am in love with this video of Beirut. I think it's perfect the way the music is layered by using levels on a stairway to illustrate the progression. It's beautiful and intelligent and it takes my breath away each time I watch it. Enjoy...

Dot Dot Dot...

One day last year I was very bored at work, and so I decided to entertain myself with the paint program on my computer. The following images are the result:



Additionally, whilst bored at work, I have a tendancy to save funny pictures from google images. Here's one to start your weekend off with. It cracks my ass up. Enjoy.

In Love With Another Pair Of Shoes!

Another Shoe Artist is lighting up my life. This time the artist is Hippy Of Doom. My favorite shoes ever are the Matryoshka Doll ones below. However, the other two I feature here are adorable as well.

Art Show

This weekend my "Bury the Hatchet" painting was juried into an art exhibition which was put on by our local "Art Mob". The show was entitled "Smock, Paper, Scissors". The purpose of the show was to collect art supplies for students at the new Autonomous Schools in Baton Rouge. The show was located in the different shops in Towne Center and was mainly centered around Whole Foods. Each store housed a different artist and outside each store was a large box for art supply donations. It was a lot of fun. I was able to meet other local artists. I took some pictures, but will have to post them this afternoon, because I left my camera at home. Also check out a little more information about one of the Autonomous Schools, CAN!

Haunted Bathroom

I live in a little apartment. Most of the apartment is nice. But...the downstairs bathroom is not.

It's got horrid wallpaper, which is dingy and stained. It's actually creepy in there. So my boyfriend suggested we decorate it as a haunted bathroom, since there is otherwise, not much hope for it. So here are a few of the pictures we've decked the walls with. Creepy? My boyfriend got this one at an antique store in Austin, Texas.
My grandmother made this one.
This is the grandparents of an old friend of ours. (Handsome Couple, huh?)
This one came from an antique store, as well.

So, at my house, you're welcome to use the restroom...IF YOU DARE!!!

Music to My Ears

I've been teaching 3rd grade for 8 years now. During my first year of teaching, there was a student in my class that I became very attached to. She had some troubles at home, but was always able to rise above it. She was so sweet and cheerful. She was always kind to others and, of course, she loved art. We went to the Art Museum for our field trip that year, and she was unable to go because she was out sick. So, over the summer, I took her myself. We had so much fun, and it really felt good to give her the opportunity to go there since she'd missed out on the field trip. I watched her grow up for the next few years until she went on to middle school, and we then lost touch.

I found out that her sister teaches in my district so I emailed her to tell my student hi. I was floored when I received an email from my student the next day saying,

"You probably had the biggest impact on my life when I was young, thank you for that."

These are the kinds of words any teacher longs to hear from her students. Especially ones like this little girl, because I tried so hard to make life better for her and give her glimpses into the world of art as a way to enjoy the world around her. Ever since receiving this email, my whole attitude at work has changed. It's easy to get jaded after doing this for 8 years, but feedback like that reminds me of the difference I must be making. I feel recharged and ready to change the world!

Outside the studio door...

Maria and Hazel were enjoying the view outside my studio door this morning. There was an estate sale across the street, which brought along with it many strange people for the pups to observe.

Hazel wanted to come in and help me cut some art board for my newest ACEOs.
Here they are! Each one will be listed in my Etsy shop ASAP!!
Side Note: For those of you who read my previous post about the crazy moth attack, I have an update. While I was vacuuming yesterday, I found him dead in a corner of the living room. I wanted to show my boyfriend the culprit, so I placed him to the side for when my boyfriend arrived. Later that night as we were watching t.v. HE CAME BACK TO LIFE and started flying around the living room!!! My boyfriend caught him and released the beast back into the wild, where he belongs. May he have a long and happy life OUTDOORS!!!

Powerlines, Water, and Red Balloons

Outside of my studio it's raining, and so, of course my door is wide open. I love to watch it rain from up here on the second floor. The birds are still chirping, because they love this little shower, too.

Inside the studio, water is also flowing. I'm trying my hand at watercolor painting. It certainly goes well with the rain, anyhow.